The Complete Guide to Hazing Litigation in Texas: A Resource for Rowlett Families

If your child has been hurt or humiliated while pledging a fraternity, sorority, Corps program, or campus organization, you are not alone, and what you are feeling—the fear, confusion, and anger—is completely justified. For parents in Rowlett and across Rockwall County, sending a child off to a Texas university is a milestone filled with pride. The nightmare begins when a phone call or text reveals that the very organizations meant to provide community have instead inflicted lasting harm.

Right now, in our own state, we are confronting this reality head-on. Our firm, Attorney911, represents Leonel Bermudez in a $10 million hazing and abuse lawsuit against the University of Houston, the national Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, and 13 individual members of its now-shuttered Beta Nu chapter. The allegations are severe: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced overconsumption of food leading to vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme physical workouts that caused Bermudez to develop life-threatening rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. His urine turned brown, he was hospitalized for four days, and he faces a risk of permanent kidney damage.

This is not an isolated incident. It is a pattern. And for families in Rowlett, Garland, Sachse, and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, understanding this pattern—and knowing where to turn—is the first step toward justice and accountability.

This guide is for you. We will explain what modern hazing truly looks like, break down the Texas laws designed to protect your child, examine the fraternity and sorority ecosystems at universities where Rowlett students enroll, and detail the legal path forward. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge, because in the face of institutional stonewalling, knowledge is your family’s greatest strength.

If you are in crisis right now, call 1-888-ATTY-911. We are the Legal Emergency Lawyers™, and we provide immediate help.

What Modern Hazing Looks Like: Beyond the Stereotypes

Hazing in 2025 is often digitally coordinated, psychologically complex, and designed to evade detection. It’s not just about “boys will be boys” or harmless initiation. For Rowlett families, recognizing the signs is critical.

The Three Tiers of Hazing:

1. Subtle Hazing: Acts that establish a power imbalance. This includes forced servitude (24/7 driving duties, cleaning members’ rooms), social isolation, being assigned a derogatory nickname, or mandatory all-night “study sessions” that interfere with academics. The digital version includes requiring pledges to share their live location via apps and respond instantly to group chats at all hours.
2. Harassment Hazing: Behavior that causes emotional or physical distress. This encompasses sleep deprivation, verbal abuse and yelling, forced consumption of unpleasant substances (hot sauce, spoiled milk), and calisthenic punishments (“smokings”) like hundreds of push-ups or wall-sits until collapse.
3. Violent Hazing: Activities with a high probability of serious injury or death. This is what we see in the worst cases: forced alcohol consumption to the point of alcohol poisoning; physical beatings and paddling; dangerous “tests” like blindfolded tackles; sexualized acts and forced nudity; and exposure to extreme elements.

The University of Houston Pi Kappa Phi case involved all three tiers. The “pledge fanny pack” and chauffeur duties were subtle hazing. The verbal harassment and sleep deprivation were harassment hazing. The forced overeating, extreme workouts, and simulated waterboarding that led to organ failure were violent hazing.

Where It Happens: While fraternities and sororities are often the focus, hazing persists in Corps of Cadets programs, athletic teams, spirit groups like cheer and dance, marching bands, and other campus clubs. The common thread is a toxic mix of tradition, secrecy, and a skewed notion of loyalty.

Texas Hazing Law & Legal Liability: A Framework for Rowlett Families

Texas has specific statutes to combat hazing, grounded in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F. Understanding these laws is the foundation for any pursuit of justice.

The Texas Definition (Education Code § 37.151):
Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiating, or maintaining membership in an organization that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student.

Key Points for Parents:

• Location Doesn’t Matter: Hazing at an off-campus house, an Airbnb retreat, or a park is still hazing under Texas law.
• “Consent” Is Not a Defense (§ 37.155): The law explicitly states that a victim’s agreement to participate is not a legal defense. Courts recognize that true consent is impossible under peer pressure and power imbalances.
• Criminal Penalties (§ 37.152): Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor. If it causes serious bodily injury, it becomes a state jail felony. Individuals who fail to report hazing or who retaliate against reporters can also face charges.
• Organizational Liability (§ 37.153): The fraternity, sorority, or club itself can be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 if it authorized the hazing or if an officer knew and failed to report it.
• Good-Faith Reporting Immunity (§ 37.154): Those who report hazing in good faith are generally immune from civil or criminal liability for the report itself. Many universities extend this to alcohol-related medical emergencies to encourage calls to 911.

Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Charges:

• Criminal Cases: Brought by the state (DA’s office) to punish wrongdoing with jail time, fines, or probation. A criminal conviction can help a civil case but is not required.
• Civil Lawsuits: Brought by the victim and family to obtain compensation (damages) and force accountability. This is where we help families recover costs for medical bills, therapy, lost future earnings, and the profound pain and suffering endured.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Case?

1. The Individuals: Members who planned, executed, or covered up the hazing.
2. The Local Chapter: As a legal entity, if it exists.
3. The National Organization: Headquarters can be liable for negligent supervision, especially if they knew of a pattern of misconduct.
4. The University: Schools can be liable for negligent supervision or if they showed “deliberate indifference” to known risks. Public universities like UH or UT have certain immunity defenses, but exceptions exist.
5. Third Parties: Property owners, landlords of off-campus houses, or alcohol providers.

Federal Laws: The Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) now requires colleges to publicly report hazing incidents. Title IX may apply if the hazing is sexualized or gender-based. The Clery Act requires reporting of certain campus crimes, which can include hazing-related assaults.

The National Pattern: Lessons from Tragedy

The hazing that injured Leonel Bermudez at UH is not unique. It follows a devastating national script. Understanding these cases shows the predictable patterns that fraternities and universities have too often ignored.

The Deadly Alcohol Hazing Script:

• Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink a bottle of liquor; died of alcohol poisoning. Settlement: $10 million.
• Timothy Piazza (Penn State, Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Deadly falls during a drinking event; help was delayed. Resulted in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in Pennsylvania.
• Max Gruver (LSU, Phi Delta Theta, 2017): Died during a “Bible study” drinking game. Resulted in Louisiana’s felony hazing “Max Gruver Act.”
• Andrew Coffey (Florida State, Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Died of alcohol poisoning at a “Big Brother” event.

The Physical & Ritualized Hazing Script:

• Chun “Michael” Deng (Baruch College, Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Killed during a violent, blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at a retreat. The national fraternity was criminally convicted.
• Danny Santulli (Univ. of Missouri, Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Suffered permanent brain damage from forced drinking. Settlements with 22 defendants.

What This Means for Rowlett Families: These cases prove that the methods are foreseeable and the risks are well-known to national organizations. When a chapter at UH or Texas A&M uses the same dangerous “traditions,” it demonstrates a systemic failure. This “pattern evidence” is powerful in court, showing that the harm was not an accident but a predictable outcome of a broken culture.

Texas University Spotlight: Where Rowlett Students Are at Risk

Rowlett students often attend universities across the state, from the sprawling DFW metro to flagship campuses hours away. Each campus has its own Greek ecosystem and history of incidents.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro & Nearby Campuses

Rowlett is part of the dynamic DFW metroplex, home to dozens of universities with active Greek life. The Cause IQ metro data shows over 510 Greek-related organizations in this region alone. For Rowlett families, this means the organizations connected to your child’s campus are part of a vast, interconnected network.

Major DFW-Area Universities Include:

• University of Texas at Dallas (Richardson)
• Southern Methodist University (Dallas)
• Texas Christian University (Fort Worth)
• University of North Texas (Denton)
• Texas A&M University-Commerce
• Texas Woman’s University (Denton)

A Snapshot of the Local Greek Ecosystem (From Public IRS & Cause IQ Records):
The following are examples of the types of organizations operating in the DFW metro, illustrating the complex web of house corporations, alumni chapters, and national entities we investigate:

• Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity – 12650 N Beach St, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation Inc – EIN 741380362, PO Box 470061, Fort Worth, TX 76147 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Lambda Lambda Chapter – EIN 521278573, 3837 Simpson Stuart Rd, Dallas, TX 75241 (IRS B83 Filing)
• Delta Delta Delta – Arlington Alumnae Chapter – Dallas, TX (Cause IQ Metro Listing)
• Zeta Sigma House Corporation of Kappa Kappa Gamma – EIN 752620706, 704 Cristler Ave, Dallas, TX 75223 (IRS B83 Filing)

Statewide University Hubs for Rowlett Students

Beyond DFW, Rowlett families commonly send students to major residential campuses across Texas. The hazing risks at these schools are very real.

University of Houston (UH): The scene of our active Bermudez litigation. The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter has been shut down, but the case reveals systemic issues. UH’s Greek community is large and includes IFC fraternities, Panhellenic sororities, and NPHC (Divine Nine) organizations. Past incidents, like a 2016 Pi Kappa Alpha case involving a lacerated spleen, show a recurring problem.

Texas A&M University: Known for its Corps of Cadets and powerful Greek life. In 2021, a Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) lawsuit alleged pledges suffered severe chemical burns from being doused with industrial cleaner, requiring skin grafts. Another lawsuit against the Corps alleged degrading “roasted pig” bondage hazing. The university’s tradition-heavy culture can sometimes enable abuse.

University of Texas at Austin (UT): UT maintains a public “Hazing Violations” log, a transparency tool other schools should emulate. Entries show repeated sanctions against groups like Pi Kappa Alpha for forced milk consumption and extreme calisthenics. SAE at UT also faced a major lawsuit in 2024 after an assault on an exchange student. Public records are a vital asset for families building a case here.

Southern Methodist University (SMU): This private Dallas university has a high-percentage Greek life membership. Past incidents include the Kappa Alpha Order chapter being suspended for paddling and alcohol hazing. As a private institution, SMU has less public reporting, making legal discovery tools even more critical.

Baylor University: Following major athletic scandals, Baylor has been under scrutiny. The baseball team faced a hazing suspension in 2020. The university’s policies and their enforcement are key factors in any hazing case arising from its campus.

The Organizations Behind the Letters: National Histories Matter

When your child is hurt by a fraternity at UT or a sorority at A&M, you are not just dealing with a group of college students. You are confronting a national brand with a history, an insurance policy, and a legal playbook. Our Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine tracks this complex landscape.

Why National Histories Create Liability:
National fraternities like Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Pi Kappa Phi have detailed anti-hazing policies precisely because they have paid millions for deaths and injuries like those of Stone Foltz, Max Gruver, and Andrew Coffey. When a Texas chapter repeats the same dangerous behavior, it demonstrates that the national organization failed to effectively train, supervise, and enforce its own rules. This is “negligent supervision.”

Cross-Validated Brand Evidence:
Our data cross-references state and national sources to map organizational reach. For example:

• Pi Kappa Alpha appears in Texas IRS records (EIN 746064445 in Nederland) and in Cause IQ data as the “Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity” in Houston.
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority appears in IRS filings (EIN 364091267 in Waco) and in Cause IQ listings for chapters in Houston and Beaumont.
  This overlap proves the statewide and national footprint of these groups, crucial for establishing jurisdiction and liability.

Public Records Directory: A Sample of Texas Greek Entities
This small sample from our master directory shows the level of detail we work with to identify every potentially liable entity. These are all public records:

• Pi Kappa Phi Delta Omega Chapter Building Corporation – EIN 371768785, 4102 Eastshore St, Missouri City, TX 77459 (IRS B83)
• Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc – Theta Delta Chapter – EIN 475370943, 5019 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77204 (IRS B83)
• Kappa Sigma – Mu Camma Chapter Inc – EIN 133048786, 3007 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845 (IRS B83)
• Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Texas A&M Chapter – EIN 900293166, 114 Henderson Hall, College Station, TX 77843 (IRS B83)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Texas Rho Corp. – Austin, TX (Cause IQ Metro Listing)

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Damages

Winning a hazing case requires a meticulous, data-driven approach. It’s about converting outrage into a legally compelling narrative backed by unassailable evidence.

The Evidence That Wins Cases:

1. Digital Evidence: Group chats (GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage) are the #1 source of evidence. They show planning, boasting, and cover-ups. Social media posts, DMs, and location tags are equally critical. We use digital forensics to recover deleted messages.
2. Photographic & Video Evidence: Photos of injuries (with timestamps), videos of events, and security footage from houses or venues.
3. Medical Records: Documentation is paramount. ER records, hospitalization reports, lab tests (like the critical CK levels showing rhabdomyolysis), and ongoing therapy notes for PTSD and anxiety.
4. Organizational Documents: Pledge manuals, chapter bylaws, emails between members and nationals, and national risk management policies obtained through discovery.
5. University Records: Prior conduct violations for the same group, obtained via public records requests or litigation discovery. UT’s public log is a prime example.
6. Witness Testimony: Other pledges, former members, roommates, and RAs.

Overcoming Common Defense Tactics:

• “They Consented”: We counter with Texas law § 37.155 and expert testimony on group coercion.
• “Rogue Individuals, Not the Fraternity”: We use pattern evidence from the national organization’s history to show foreseeability and negligent supervision.
• “It Was Off-Campus”: We establish liability through sponsorship, control, and the organization’s benefit from the activity.
• “We Have Anti-Hazing Policies”: We prove the policies were window-dressing by showing a lack of enforcement and prior unpunished incidents.

Damages: What Families Can Recover

• Economic Damages: All past and future medical expenses, lost wages, costs of psychological care, and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
• Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death Damages: In the ultimate tragedy, families can recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious recklessness, courts may award damages to punish the defendants and deter future conduct.

Practical Guide for Rowlett Parents & Students

If You Suspect Hazing – ACT NOW. Evidence disappears within hours.

For Parents:

• Listen & Document: If your child opens up, listen without judgment. Write down everything they say with dates and names. Screenshot any texts or images they show you immediately.
• Prioritize Health: Get medical and psychological care, even if injuries seem minor. Tell doctors the cause was “hazing.”
• Preserve Evidence: Help your child preserve all digital evidence. Do NOT let them delete anything out of shame or fear.
• Seek Legal Counsel Before Reporting: Contact an experienced hazing attorney before reporting to the university or police. We can help you navigate the process to protect your child’s rights and preserve evidence. Universities often have a primary goal of controlling the narrative.

For Students:

• Your Safety First: If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Good-faith reporter protections exist.
• Preserve Everything: Take screenshots of all group chats, photos, and social media posts. Back them up to the cloud or email them to a trusted adult.
• Seek Medical Care: Go to the hospital or campus clinic. Be honest about what happened. This creates a vital independent record.
• Know Your Rights: You have the right to leave the organization at any time. You have the right to an attorney. You have the right to be free from retaliation.

Critical Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Deleting digital evidence.
2. Confronting the fraternity/sorority directly, giving them a chance to destroy evidence and lawyer up.
3. Signing any agreement with the university without an attorney’s review.
4. Posting about the incident on public social media.
5. Waiting to see what the university does. Internal processes are not designed for victim compensation or true accountability.

Why Attorney911 Is the Right Firm for Texas Hazing Cases

When your family is facing a hazing crisis, you need more than a lawyer; you need a strategic advocate who understands how powerful institutions fight. At The Manginello Law Firm (Attorney911), we bring a unique combination of insider knowledge and proven litigation power to these exact cases.

We Are Currently Fighting One of Texas’s Most Serious Hazing Cases.
We represent Leonel Bermudez against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. We know firsthand the tactics used by national fraternities and university legal teams because we are in the arena right now. This isn’t theoretical for us.

Our Competitive Advantages:

• Insurance Insider Knowledge: Our attorney, Mr. Lupe Peña, spent years as a defense lawyer for a national insurance firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurers value claims, deploy delay tactics, and fight coverage. We know their playbook because we used to run it.
• Experience Against Billion-Dollar Defendants: Managing Partner Ralph Manginello was one of the few plaintiff attorneys involved in the BP Texas City explosion litigation. We are not intimidated by the deep pockets of national fraternities or university systems. We’ve faced Goliath before.
• Data-Driven Investigation: We built and maintain the Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine referenced throughout this guide. We don’t start from scratch; we start with data on 1,423 Greek organizations across Texas. We know how to find the house corporations, alumni associations, and insurance policies that others miss.
• Dual Civil & Criminal Expertise: Ralph Manginello’s membership in the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) means we understand the criminal exposure in hazing cases and can advise clients navigating both legal tracks.
• Spanish-Language Services: Mr. Peña is a fluent Spanish speaker, ensuring we can serve all Texas families with comfort and clarity.

We approach each case with empathy for the profound trauma hazing causes, but we fight with the tenacity and precision required to win against well-funded opponents. Our goal is not just compensation, but accountability and change.

Call to Action for Rowlett Families: You Don’t Have to Face This Alone

If hazing has impacted your child and your family, the path forward can feel overwhelming. The university may be vague. The organization may close ranks. You may be worried about your child’s future or escalating costs.

Take the first step toward clarity and control.

Contact Attorney911 for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will listen to your story, review any evidence you have, and explain your legal options in plain English. We can help you understand the realistic timelines, the process, and how we can help you seek justice.

We serve families across Texas from our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont. Wherever you are in Rowlett, Rockwall County, or the greater DFW area, we are here to help.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911).
Direct Line: (713) 528-9070
Website: https://attorney911.com
Se habla Español: Contact Mr. Lupe Peña at lupe@atty911.com

Let us help you turn this crisis into a fight for accountability. Call today.

Legal Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice on your specific situation, please contact an attorney directly.